Nameless Island, Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons

Just 3,800 miles north of Eastern Capital lay a small island. Like most obscure islands with no resources to speak of, this island—whose official name even the locals might not know—had scarcely any cultivators.

The island spanned only a few hundred miles. Most cultivators passing through traveled along its east, west, and south sides. Those headed north would not stop here, while those coming from the north would not land here when Eastern Capital was already within arm's reach.

Thus, most of those living here were mortals, along with a handful of novice cultivators. Any small cultivator with dreams and ambitions who had managed to enter the path would rack their brains to leave this place for broader lands with richer resources.

Only mortals continued to live and multiply here generation after generation. The vast majority never left the island in their entire lives. Being able to walk from the island's southern end to its northern end was already considered quite something.

Because it was close to Eastern Capital, the climate was mild. There were no storms or torrential rains all year round, and even powerful cultivators would not fight so close to Great Ying Divine Dynasty's Eastern Capital.

Why the Emperor Ying had established an Eastern Capital here in the first place was something few truly knew. Most believed that this Eastern Capital at sea existed merely to guard Great Ying's eastern flank.

But what was there to defend in the east? Of all the kings and island lords of the Eastern Sea farther east, who dared bare their fangs at Great Ying? Even when they fought until dog brains splattered, they would not dare casually step even one foot across Great Ying's borders.

Back then, when the Heavenly Order Guard had sent only a first-rank Outer Marquis, they